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| Full name | Aston Villa Women Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Villans, The Villa, The Lions | ||
| Short name | Villa, AVWFC | ||
| Founded | 1973 (as Solihull FC) | ||
| Ground | Bescot Stadium, Walsall | ||
| Capacity | 11,000 | ||
| Owner | NSWE Group | ||
| Chairman | Nassef Sawiris | ||
| Manager | Marcus Bignot | ||
| League | FA WSL | ||
| 2019–20 | FA Women's Championship, 1st of 11 (promoted) | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
| |||
Aston Villa Women Football Club is the women's football team of Aston Villa, currently playing in the English women's Super League.[1] The club has been in existence since 1973. Originally titled Solihull F.C., the team affiliated to Aston Villa in 1989, becoming Villa Aztecs, and became the official Aston Villa women's side in 1996. The club have a senior team, a reserve team and several other teams of younger age groups under a Regional Talent Club FA license.
History
Aston Villa Women Football Club was formed in 1973 as Solihull FC. When Aston Villa asked for help in forming a ladies team in 1989, Solihull responded. The club agreed to change their name in 1996 to become the officially recognised ladies team of Aston Villa.
As Villa Aztecs, they reached the 1995 League Cup Final but lost 2–0 to Wimbledon, and played in the 1995–96 FA Women's Premier League but were relegated.
The senior team, renamed to Aston Villa Ladies F.C., continued to play mainly in the 2nd-tier Northern Division. The club won promotion twice more and played in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in 1999–2000[2] and in 2003–04, but ended in the relegation zone in both seasons.
The Lady Villans won the Northern Division for the fourth time in 2011 and gained promotion to the WPL National Division,[3] which had become the 2nd tier below the FA WSL.
On 5 May 2013, the club had its greatest achievement by winning its first ever trophy, the Women's Premier League Cup, beating Leeds United Ladies 5–4 on penalties.[4]
In 2014 they were one of ten teams who were elected to WSL2,[5] and in 2018 to the Women's Championship.[6]
On 4 July 2019, the team was renamed Aston Villa Women F.C., CEO Christian Purslow, said that the name "aligns more appropriately with women’s football in this country".[7] On the same day, Chief Commercial Officer, Nicola Ibbetson, was elected to the FA WSL and Women's Championship board - making Aston Villa Women one of only two Championship clubs to have a representative on the board.[8]
In 2019–20, Villa won promotion to the WSL and entered the top flight of women's football for the first time since 2004.
Players
Current squad
- As of 12 January 2021.[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- ^ Dual registration with Derby County, remains eligible for Aston Villa when called upon
Former players
Honours
)
- FA Women's Premier League (Northern Division) (Level 2)
Winners (4): 1992–93, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2010–11 - FA Women's Premier League Cup
Winners (1): 2012–13 - FA Women's Championship (Level 2)
Winners (1): 2019–20
Non-playing staff
Corporate hierarchy
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Nassef Sawiris |
| Chief Executive Officer | Christian Purslow |
| Board Member | Wes Edens |
Reference:[10]
Management hierarchy
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Marcus Bignot |
| Assistant Manager | Jenny Sugarman |
| Coach | Carly Davies |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Richard Steeples |
| Director of Football | Eniola Aluko |
Regional Talent Club
The club also run several other teams under the auspices of an FA Tier Two Regional Talent Club. This centre aims to develop the talent from within the local area. The RTC teams include an under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and development squad"
In August 2010, Aston Villa Women FC supplied eight players to a 30-strong England Under-17 training camp.[11]
References
- ^ "2012/13 National Division table". FA. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ "About Aston Villa Ladies football club". AVLFC. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2007.
- ^ "2010/11 Northern Division table". FA. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ "2012/13 FA Women's Premier League Cup fixtures". FA. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ "INTRODUCING ASTON VILLA LADIES". FA Women's Super League. Aston villa women's team have won 18 major trophies. The FA. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ Styles, Greg (4 July 2019). "Aston Villa Ladies become Aston Villa Women ahead of new season". Aston Villa F.C. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
- ^ "Aston Villa Ladies become Aston Villa Women ahead of new season". avfc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ "Aston Villa Women's Team". Aston Villa FC. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Revealed: Aston Villa fan appointed to club's board by Tony Xia". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "Training camp squad selected". TheFA.com. 3 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2010.